On January 20, 2025, Donald Trump was sworn in as president of the United States for the second time. However, only hours into his presidency, he made a significant mistake.
After the inauguration, Trump signed multiple executive orders. These orders, which are legally binding and do not need Congress’s approval, included some controversial decisions. Among them, Trump withdrew the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and the World Health Organization. Speaking to a crowd at a sports arena in Washington, D.C., he promised to undo “80 destructive and radical executive actions of the previous administration.”
Additionally, Trump declared a national energy emergency. He promised to refill the country’s strategic oil reserves and sell U.S. energy worldwide.
“We will be a rich nation again, and it is that liquid gold under our feet that will help to do it,” Trump told the crowd.
He also announced a national emergency at the U.S.-Mexico border, saying he would send troops to assist immigration agents and limit refugees and asylum seekers.
Trump didn’t stop there—he also signed orders related to foreign affairs.
On his first day back, however, Trump made a major error.
When asked about NATO countries failing to meet the required 2% spending on defense, Trump mentioned Spain as an example. He claimed, “Spain is very low. They’re a BRICS nation, Spain. Do you know what a BRICS nation is? You’ll figure it out.”
This was incorrect. Spain is not part of BRICS, which is an organization of developing countries including Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, and others.
Trump also proposed placing “at least a 100% tariff on the business they do with the United States.”
Such a move would threaten decades of free trade between the U.S. and its allies.
Spain’s government spokesperson, Pilar Alegría, responded to the error. “I don’t know if the statement made by President Trump was the result of a mix-up or not, but I can confirm that Spain is not in BRICS,” she said.
